Pendulum game



April 4, 1967 A. G. AMES 3,312,470

PENDULUM GAME Filed July 10, 1964 INVENTOR. B"

ALVIN 6. AMES War-Flake ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,312,470PENDULUM GAME Alvin G. Ames, 2352 N. Vermont St., Arlington, Va. 22207Filed July 10, 1964, Ser. No. 381,682 4 Claims. (Cl. 273-95) Thisinvention relates to a game device which includes a tethered spherewhich, when set into pendulous motion, moves to and fro over a base,allowing the player to move objects from one point of the base toanother during the brief moments when the sphere is out of the way at apoint beyond the area of play, and offering means for other types ofgames and activities involving use of the pendulum.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a means for engagement inentertaining contests and for development of manipulativeskillsparticularly nimble, deft, and quick movements of arms, hands, andfingers. The apparatus is substantially built and the mechanism isfoolproof in that on player has an advantage other than his naturalfacilities of perception, timing, and quick reaction. All games playedwith this device are games of skill. Luck and chance play no part.

The device includes a base to which is affixed a pendulum unit which,when unfolded, provides a raised suspension point from which issuspended a chain, cord or rod. To the base in the two corners nearestthe player are affixed posts, on one of which are placed several rings(preferably three); having center holes so that the rings can be placedover the posts. Several pegs are affixed to the base near the pointwhere the swinging pendulum comes nearest the base, each peg being justhigh enough to hold one of the rings in position while presenting nointerference to free oscillation of the pendulum.

The entertainment use of my invention is believed obvious; my inventioncan also be used in testing manual skills of persons in specializedfields and also for rehabilitation of injured parties.

The design of my invention enables the production of a simple structurecapable of enabling the play of a series of reasonably challenging andcompetitive games. The structural components of my game apparatus areuniquely combined to facilitate manufacture at a reasonable cost andsale at a reasonable and competitive price. Various game pieces may beemployed as will be described hereinafter. The apparatus includes a baseto which is pivotally mounted a pendulum means including a pendulumsupport and pendulum. The pendulum means is pivotally connected to theback end of the base to allow swinging movement from an upward playposition to a storage position in horizontal alignment with the base.

Other obvious advantages and meritorious features will more fully appearfrom the following specifications, claims and accompanying drawingsherein:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the game apparatus when folded, aswhen packaged or when not in use;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the game apparatus when unfolded,ready for use;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the game apparatus showing in fulllines the position of the pendulum at the time a move can be made; thatis, when the pendulum is momentarily out of the players area ofmovement;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing other games which can beplayed; and

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a pivotal game piece.

Referring now to the drawing, it will be seen that the base 15 has afront end 17 and a back end 19, a pendulum means 21 being pivotallyconnected to the back end 19. The pendulum means 21 includes a pendulumsupport "ice 23 having an inner end 25 pivotally connected as by screw27 to the back end 19 of the base 15. A pendulum 29 is provided whichhas an upper end 31 connected to theouter end 33 of the pendulum support23, the lower end or bob 35 being spaced a predetermined distance fromthe base when the pendulum means 21 is in play position as shown in FIG.3, the pendulum means 21 being shown in storage position in FIG. 1. Inplay position the pendulum support 23 extends upwardly and toward thefront end 17 of the base to position the bob 35 when in rest or dwellcondition over the central portion of the base.

It will be noted that the pendulum support 23 is an inverted U-shapedframe having the ends of its legs pivotally mounted at each side of theback end 19 of the base with the pendulum 29 being connected to thebight member at the transverse center thereof. It will be recognizedthat the legs define a predetermined zone of free oscillation for thependulum with respect to rearward movement.

A highly satisfactory apparatus is found in having the base about 18inches long, the pendulum support 23 about 18 inches long and extendingupwardly at an angle of about 60 from the base providing a pendulumlength of about 14 /2 inches, the transverse width between the legs ofthe pendulum support being about 8% inches to restrict the zone of freeoscillation.

The base 15 includes means 37 at its back end 19 which extendstransversely outward beyond and above the vertical side walls 39 toprovide an abutting engagement with the ends of the legs of the pendulumsupport 23; preferably said means 37 is a triangular shaped member whichextends across the back end of the base thereby providing not only a 60angular abutment face 41 but also a horizontal face 43 which secures thependulum support 23 in storage condition.

A set of rings 45 is provided and the base 15 includes a pair of tallposts 47 at each front corner and a series of spaced short pegs 49projecting upwardly from the base [and longitudinally aligned with theconnection of the pendulum 29 to the pendulum support 23, the front orfirst peg 49 being vertically below the bob 35 when in rest position.The short pegs 49 are of a predetermined height to enable receipt of aring 45 thereon without presenting interference to the free oscillatingmovement of the pendulum.

A stop member 51 is provided which is preferably stored as shown in FIG.1 on the right corner tall post 47, the hole in the stop member beingsized also to receive the pegs 49 for use as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4wherein the stop member 51 defines an orbital zone of free oscillationfor the pendulum.

FIG. 5 shows a game piece 53 having pivoted members 55 mounted on a wireunit 57 which is mounted on the board by means of holes 56, one pivotalmember being shown in the vertical position and the other pivotal memberbeing shown in a knocked-down horizontal position to indicate theposition assumed after being hit by the bob 35.

The bob 35 is prefenably magnetic, as seen in FIG. 3 a magnet 59 ismounted on the bottom thereof, this magnet being used to pick up amagnetic object 61 supported on the stop member 51 positioned at theback end of the base as shown in FIG. 3.

The game apparatus is designed so that several games can be played. Thefollowing is a description of a game requiring quick movements.

The rings 45 (preferably three) are placed on the post 47 in front ofthe player at his left. The player begins by drawing the pendulum bob 35toward himself so that the chain '63 is almost in a horizontal position.He releases the bob in a manner so that it will swing back and forthmidway between the parallel bars 23. Using one hand only, the player nowmoves one ring from the post 47 at his left and places it on the firstpeg 49 near the center of the base while the bob is at the rearwardfiar-away point. With the same hand he next moves, the second ring tothe second short peg. Next, he .moves the third ring to the third peg.Then he moves the rings, again one :at a time, from the short pegs tothe post from which he originally removed them. Following this, he movesthe rings to the short pegs again. Again, he returns them to the tallpost. This cycle is repeated until the player fouls outthat is, until heinterrupts the swinging pendulum with his hand or with a ring or untilthe pendulum, which can maneuver out of line, touches one of the uprightparallel bars of the pendulum support 23. The players score for theround is. the humber of successful moves he makes before fouling out.

While the device is suited to competitive type play, as described, it isalso suited to individual play, affording amusement and also anexcellent means for developing motor skills. For instances:

(1) A player can keep record of his highest score with his right hand,and from day to day he can attempt to break his previous record.

(2) Aplayer can keep record of his highest score with his left hand, andfrom day to day he can attempt to break his previous record.

(3) A player can keep record on play in which he uses his handsalternately.

(4) Finally, he can make the activity more challenging by imposing .uponhimself a non-skip routine; that is, he must make a successful move onevery swing of the pendulum.

Competing players can use the variations just described togiveinteresting, and fun-provoking, variations to the contests.

Basic rules are as follows: A player is never permitted to reach behindthe pendulum to place or take away a ring. Each ring must lie fiat onthe base if it is to be counted in scoring. There is no objection tocorrecting a leaner atany time before the player fouls out. In allgames, only one ring can be moved at one time.

A second game for Which'the apparatus is designed is one requiring skillin setting the pendulum into circular motion and into an ellipticalmotion. For this game a separate part is used. This part may be a sphereor a cylinder or any other stop member 51 which can be placed on one ofthe three short pegs. Preferably it will be so designed that it can bepositioned on the tall post at the right of the player when not in use.

The game has three phases. In the first phase a player places the stopmember 51 on the forward short peg 49. He releases the pendulum in acircular swinging motion so that it will circle or orbit about the stopmember placed on the first peg. If a good orbit is attained, thependulum will circle the stop member fifty or more times before comingto a halt. The player who achieves the highest number of orbits winsthis phase of the game.

In the second phase, a player places the stop member on the second peg.Again, he releases the pendulum-- this time in an elliptical motion. Ifthe proper trajectory (direction and impetus) is attained, the pendulumwill clear, or circle about, the stop member five, ten, or in rarecases, as many as fifteen times, The player who achieves the highestnumber of orbits wins this phase of the game. i

In the third phase, a player places the stop member on the rear peg.Again, he releases the pendulum, and again in an elliptical motion. Ifthe proper trajectory is attained, the pendulum will clear, or circleabout, the stop member one-and in rare cases twice-and possibly a thirdtime. The player who achieves the highestnumber of orbits wins thisphase of the game.

I claim:

1. In a game apparatus, a horizontal b-ase defining an area of play, apendulum, pendulum support means sup porting said pendulum above saidbase with the state of rest position of the pendulum being over andabove said area of play, said support means being constructed andarranged to provide a large unobstructed zone of player hand access tosaid area of play, a set of rings, said base including a series ofspaced pegsv projecting upwardly from said base in said area of play,each peg being of a height to receive a ring, said rings having theiropenings of a diameter larger than that of said pegs whereby said ringscan be [readily manually removed from said pegs, a ring and pegcombination presenting no interference to free oscillatory movement ofthe pendulum, said pendulum being a predetermined distance above saidbase when at said state of rest position so that when moving, thependulum presents a moving obstacle to free entry and exit of said areaof play to the player's hand.

2. In a game apparatus as defined in claim 1 and including a stop memberand wherein one of the pegs is positioned directly beneath the state ofrest position of the pendulum, said stop member having a hole receivingsaid one of said pegs to define an orbital zone of free oscillation forsaid pendulum.

3. In a game piece as defined in claim 1 and wherein said base hasvertical side walls and said pendulum support means includes an invertedU-s-haped frame, the ends of the legs of the U-shaped frame beingpivotally mounted to their respective side walls at the back end of thebase, said pendulum being connected to the bight member of the U-shapedframe, said pendulum support defining a predetermined zone of freeoscillation for said pendulum.

4. In a game apparatus as defined in claim 3 and wherein said baseincludes means at said back end which extend transversely outwardlybeyond and above said side Walls for abutting engagement with said legsof the U-shaped member when said pendulum support is in play position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 712,923 11/ 1902Frysinger 27340 714,969 12/1902 Talbert 27341 1,695,624 12/1928 Welpley273-1 2,212,163 8/ 1940 Mangold 27340 2,277,057 3/1942 Back 273--13,262,703 7/ 1966 Hodick 273- FOREIGN PATENTS 1,044,431 11/ 1953 France.

191,584 1/ 1923 Great Britain.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

S. NATTER, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A GAME APPARATUS, A HORIZONTAL BASE DEFINING AN AREA OF PLAY, APENDULUM, PENDULUM SUPPORT MEANS SUPPORTING SAID PENDULUM ABOVE SAIDBASE WITH THE STATE OF REST POSITION OF THE PENDULUM BEING OVER ANDABOVE SAID AREA OF PLAY, SAID SUPPORT MEANS BEING CONSTRUCTED ANDARRANGED TO PROVIDE A LARGE UNOBSTRUCTURE ZONE OF PLAYER HAND ACCESS TOSAID AREA OF PLAY, A SET OF RINGS, SAID BASE INCLUDING A SERIES OFSPACED PEGS PROJECTING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BASE IN SAID AREA OF PLAY,EACH PEG BEING OF A HEIGHT OF RECEIVE A RING, SAID RINGS HAVING THEIROPENINGS OF A DIAMETER LARGER THAN THAT OF SAID PEGS WHEREBY SAID RINGSCAN BE READILY MANUALLY REMOVED FROM SAID PEGS, A RING AND PEGCOMBINATION PRESENTING NO INTERFERENCE TO FREE OSCILLATORY MOVEMENT OFTHE PENDULUM, SAID PENDULUM BEING A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE ABOVE SAIDBASE WHEN AT SAID STATE OF REST POSITION SO THAT WHEN MOVING, THEPENDULUM PRESENTS A MOVING OBSTACLE TO FREE ENTRY AND EXIT OF SAID AREAOF PLAY TO THE PLAYER''S HAND.